Having to Have Before You Can Do
Often politicians say that something must be done and they need something else before they can do anything about it.
For example, there are numerous examples where someone is denied health care because of this problem or that loophole and the solution is an all-encompassing heath care bill that creates sweeping changes in all health care in order to solve some of these problems and loopholes.
In this case, the politician says that we need the health care bill in order to solve the problem. We have to have something in order to do something.
But, a common sense question would be, “Why not just solve the problem by changing the rule or regulation?” Why not change the health care provision so that the person is not denied coverage. It doesn’t take a new health care bill to effect a change.
It’s the same in a number of areas. Laws are on the books that would solve a lot of problems if law enforcement or prosecution would just enforce them. We don’t need a new law before we can do something. Just follow the laws we already have. Borders and immigration. Guns and their misuse.
Quite often, the request for new laws means additional restrictions and a lessening of liberty by having the new law go further than the existing law in order to solve the “problem”.
So, be suspicious when you hear that we need the have this in order to solve that. There is usually a simpler solution or even an existing solution that is being ignored.
